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Show Board chooses to bond for $5 million byTriuBreuaa 3--2 In vote Duchesne County School Board hu decided to acquire $5 million in lease purchase bonds to renovate and add new classrooms and gymnasiums at Union and Altamont High Schools. Board President Ralph and Board Member Art Taylor were the members voting no against bonding. The two voiced their concerns over not having a cushion" with capital outlay funds when bond payments are made. Duchesne Clerk Phil Thompson told the STANDARD he guessed the amount of principal and interest at 1630,000 a year. Exact figures were unknown as of Monday. Presently the board is paying off a 1971 bond of 1225,000 a year. The 1971 bond will be paid off in 1992 and the latest bond in 1997. . The latest bond could be paid off quicker if the hoard opted to raise tiie school mill levy, officials say. Presently Duchesne School mill levy is the states second lowest. Altamont's project will total Construction bids for the pro- jecta, which will be built eimul-taneously, will be open April 1987 and completed fall 1988. . (2,202,500. It will encompass new classrooms, renovation of the shop area into classrooms and upgrading the administration area. Also the Longhorns will acquire a new gym on the west-sid-e of the school. Union will see 15 new classrooms and a new gym at a cost of $2361,500. There will be renovation of the administration area along with the library. Also a commons area will be placed where the present counseling center is located. The Cougars will have a new gym with improvements in the present gym lockerrooms, dance 4-- 6 area, more physical education storage along with a balcony. overloads at both schools. And also both facilities need to be maintained for their future uses." Although projects are not in j Because the board opted to j dispute, some board officials think pursue lease purchase bonds, a I the bonding issue is not lair to the formal bond election was not I public. The board chose to conduct necessary. The lease works like a k a public survey a short time ago to receive input on patrons' feelings loan whereby the lendor will own on funding future projects. Bonding the property if the board cannot was the least popular of the three make payments. For anyone who would like to : revenue generating methods: comment on bonding for the philosophy, which the board has been following for some projects can give input to the bosrd time, increase mill levy and Thursday, December 11 at the district office st 6:30 p.m. bonding. Superintendent Dennis Mower Board member Ellen Rawlings said the projects are needed and said the decision . to build both will be a big asset to the schools involved. He added bonding for the projects together and bond for the was a good idea. She said to in needed money order was projects with the facility improvements the build both projects together. patrons will not mind paying for the I believe it is a good idea bond premiums. The retiring board because both of them are needed," member, who will attend her last Mower said. "We have student : : . , board meeting tomorrow night, said if funding problems arise in the future the district can either raise the mill levy or cut out some areas to offset the payments. "That money is not a whole lot to spend when you see what we get for it There is not too many unexpected costs that we didn't know about," Rawlings said. It is not going to hurt the pockets of the people who are hurting. I'm just trying to be optimistic. The people are tickled to death about the projects. I think it is important to have nice facilities that people can be proud of." But Taylor, who said he was in favor of the projects, told the STANDARD he felt uncomfortable with bonding. He said the survey ' was ignored" on the bonding decision. "It was ignored completely. The survey has not been brought up, he said. "We are in no pressure right now to move the 9th grade op to Union. (Plans are to move the 9th grade when Union's project is done). Because of the sluggish economy and taxes decreasing st this time, I just didn't feel comfortable. It was just too scary right now for me. The district has built a large number of schools with the philosophy. Taylor said he thinks that philosophy is presently in the best interest of all county residents. Taylor has been reported as saying he doesn't believe the Altamont area is in need of a lot of extra room. "I don't see what will support the classrooms in Altamont. Sure we need some room, but I would hate to see a shift in population due to the oil prices," he said. 50 Cents 20 Pages Possible electric bills will increase The possibility of seeing a 15 percent increase on your electric bill is almost a certainty. April l,1 according to Moon Lake Eelctric General Manager Grant EarL Earl said the increase will be across the board. He said businesses were forewarned a while so businesses could adjust their 1987 projected budgets. Although it is almost sure, Moon Lake Electric Board of Directors have yet to fully approve the proposed increase. The directors are planning to review the 1987 ago in a meeting budget today, Wed- - " ' ' projected, nesday, and at'10 a.m. in the board room there will be a public hearing on the budget Earl said the possible increase is because of the cost increase from Deseret Generation and transmission. He said although its hard to increase rate payers cost it is something that will have to be done. Earl noted the increase in April is because of not wanting to put the increase on consumers backs during the winter months. Some complaints have been surfacing at Moon Lake concerning the increase. "We are getting some feedback about the increase. We are getting it from oil companys because of the restraints they are presently under," Earl said. "We have been getting some negative impact because of the economy .around the area. If the rate increase passes by the directors, it will be the first increase since July 1985 when a varied adjustment of 12 percent was imposed. "We adjusted rates bn the cost of Earl said. "Our service study, rates are basicaly proper. This next adjustment will be across the board; it will all be the same." Earl said because of some cost saving measures by Deseret last year, Moon Lake was able to forego an increase in 1986. He said the company is absorbing this year and will tack it on to next year, he said. Sather injured in serious accident Some Duchesne residents were to wide treated a variety of displays at the county fair building Friday. These little girls were just as impressed EARLY SHOPPING with the homemade gifts as their Mom was. From can- dy to bathroom gift ideas were on hand, also Santa Claus was there to take requests. Randy Sather was westbound on Highway 40 from Roosevelt Tuesday, December 2, when he was involved in a serious accident According to Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Bruce Provost, Sather apparently rear ended a red truck or trailer on a semi. The rear Jurisdiction issues discussed The Ute Jurisdiction Case has been settled for over a week and still little is known about the corollary issues. To better define some of these the STANDARD has pursued authorities on several issues. We have talked to the U.S. Attorney regarding law enforcement issue and jurisdiction, we have talked to farmers, real estate agents and the State Tax Commission as well Stories of the findings from these experts are contained in the stories the issues of law enforcement, property cost, sales tax about impact and farming issues. In talking with U3. Attorney Brent Ward about the law enforcement concerns, such as he said the decision was too new and his office "hasn't thought about it although we have asked the Interior Department for a legal opinion as far as law enforcement is concerned. Ward visited the Uintah Basin about two years ago and met with the Sheriffs of Duchesne and Uintah Counties, all the police ehiefo and the BIA representatives. They didn't disclose much of their discussion particulars at that time but it was mentioned that they had agreed upon getting n, agreements. is the practice of different agencies (in this case the BIA and the Utah POST) to Cross-deputizati- recognise the training of each others officers. The Utah Professional Officers Standards and Training has strict academic and physical standards that qualify law enforcement officers to get on the street. The BIA officers attend a federal school of law enforcement training that is equally difficult Ward said the attempt of a couple of years ago failed when some of the Indian officers did not complete the POST academic course. Since then the project has "fallen by the wayside, Ward said, "but it may be more easily done with the BIA officers in place now. The issue of law enforcement in the Uintah Basin is a tough one. None of the law enforcement administrators we talked to want to return to the patchwork quilt type of problem that could bring at least one BIA officer and at least one other officer to each call. This would not only be a tremendous duplication of effort but could prove costly and unnecessary, according ended vehicle left the scene of the accident and the UHP are still attempting to locate it "Until we can find the other vehicle and gather more information this case is still under investigation, Trooper Provost said. Bather's vehicle, a black Peugeot, sustained extensive front end damage," Provost stated. He also characterized the injuries to Sather as very serious head, face, upper body and leg injuries. Listed in serious but stable condition, Sather has undergone several operations since being flown to St. Mark's Hospital Tuesday night. The accident occured about 7:15 p.m. near Top Stop on Highway 40 west of Roosevelt. Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact the Utah Highway as soon as Patrol at possible. 722-444- 0 Continued on page 3 County ordered to lower taxes 12 The State Tax Commission has notified right counties to adjust their property assessment rolls in order to make them equitable with the other counties in the state. Duchesne County was one of three counties notified to lower their assessment rolls. Five other counties are to raise their assessment rolls. This action by the Tax Commission, however, does not mean that property taxes will necessarily increase of decrease in these counties. Factoring orders inform counties what their assessment level should be in the county. The property tax rate is set by the local government entities (sueh as counties, cities, school districts, local improvement districts, ete.) based on their budgetary needs. The property assessment measures what the property is worth, not its tax rates. The following counties were notified to adjust their assessment property rolls: Duchesne, down 12 percent; Rich, down 11 percent; Sanpete, down 13 percent; Emery, up 22 percent; Garfield, up 23 percent; Iron, up 20 percent, Kane, up 12 percent; and San Juan, up 19 percent. Factoring orders are issued to assure equity among 11 counties in their assessment of property for taxes. Counties have the option of applying the adjustments however they wish within the county. This can be. done by type of property, location of property, etc. Factoring orders are subject to appeal to the State Tax Commission. Counties have 15 days to file an appeal if they question the factoring order. State law requires annual ratio studies, to measure intercounty equity and to insure that residents of each county are paying their fair share toward the uniform school fund. Studies are conducted annually. Factoring orders are issued by the fourth Tuesday in November of all even-number- years to adjust the counties assessment rolls. Tax Commission staff compare the sales history of properties in each county for an period and compare these to the countys Continued on page 3 th M Ute Indian Reservation under court decision flute Indian Reservation recognized by counties r |